Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

अपरा तालवृन्तं च परा तांबूलपेटिकाम् । काचित्क्रीडाशुकं चारु करे ऽकुरुत भामिनी

Transliteration

aparā tālavṛntaṃ ca parā tāṃbūlapeṭikām | kācitkrīḍāśukaṃ cāru kare 'kuruta bhāminī

Translation

Eine edle Dame hielt einen Fächer aus Palmblättern; eine andere trug ein Betelkästchen; und eine weitere anmutige Frau nahm einen lieblichen zahmen Papagei zum Spiel in die Hand—jede diente in graziöser Zuwendung.

Word by Word

• अपरा: another (woman)
• अपरा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; subject

• ताल-वृन्तम्: a palm-leaf fan
• ताल-वृन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + वृन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: तालस्य वृन्तम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• परा: another (woman)
• परा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; subject

• ताम्बूल-पेटिकाम्: a betel-box
• ताम्बूल-पेटिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक) + पेटिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ताम्बूलस्य पेटिका; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• काचित्: some (woman)
• काचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काचित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; indefinite pronoun

• क्रीडा-शुकम्: a toy/parrot for play
• क्रीडा-शुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: क्रीडायाः शुकः (play-parrot/toy parrot); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• चारु: beautiful, charming
• चारु: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषण of (क्रीडाशुकम्)

• करे: in the hand
• करे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक (locative)

• अकुरुत: placed/made
• अकुरुत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भामिनी: a lovely woman
• भामिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; apposition to काचित् (subject)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights bhakti expressed as seva—devotion shown through attentive, graceful service—an outward sign of inner reverence that Shaiva tradition values as a supportive limb of worship.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Though the verse describes attendants and offerings, it reflects the Saguna mode of devotion where care, beauty, and ordered service become offerings that cultivate humility and readiness for Shiva’s worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined upacāra-bhakti (reverential service): preparing items, maintaining cleanliness and attentiveness—supporting formal pūjā of Shiva, even if bhasma, rudrākṣa, or mantra are not explicitly named here.